Repost 2017: A stylish movie set ? No, it’s a house in Olinda ! #Dalcrombie, 1939, was designed by #JEsmondDorney, who also did many Deco flats in Elwood. So many projecting #semicircular elements, a fave feature of Dorney’s work, sticking out from the flat roofed main rectangular volume, on different levels and wildly cantilevered; the … Continue reading Dalcrombie, Olinda, 1939. →

Repost 2016: Bit of #municipalmodern, the 60s #toiletblock behind the #shrineofremembrance. Designed by the #MelbourneCityCouncil in-house team, with a neat circular #cantileveredroof, floating over ribbed concrete walls. Painted the dreaded shades of grey, was originally unpainted concrete with brown bricks. (There was a square version in the Fitzroy Gardens demolished a few years ago for … Continue reading Stylish toilet block →

A redevelopment of the long neglected #SirCharlesHothamHotel on the corner of Flinders & Spence has been announced - and it might not be too bad ! Built in 1913, it’s one of the last designs by #WilliamPittArchitect, and apart from the corner bar and billiard room, the interiors are pretty intact, with art nouveau tiling … Continue reading Charles Hotham Hotel tower →

Northcote Theatre, Melbs oldest intact picture house, built 1912; preserved as a function centre for decades. I got it on the #victorianheritageregister about 15 years ago. Now proposed for an upgrade to more like a nightclub- great the facade is to be restored, reopening the upper porch area, and I don’t mind the groovy new … Continue reading Northcote Theatre →

24 December 2020: My 1991 proposal to give the Arts Centre a new spire instead of finishing the then existing short one- by putting it on the concert hall instead. Something like the spire we were going to get back in the 60s. Can’t recall whether I thought some or all would’ve copper, but certainly … Continue reading Arts centre spire idea →

Repost 2016: Linacre's Terrace, 1857, #victoriaparade, #eastmelbourne, features an elegant arcaded porch / inset verandah, apparently made in #sandstone. (and a rather vestigial pediment). The heritage citation says it's important as an early terrace, though actually there are plenty more that are earlier, though I spose not by much. The earliest are nearby, like royal … Continue reading Early terrace in Victoria Parade →

Repost 2015: Another former #fitzroypub the Leicester Arms in Leicester Street off Brunswick, and pretty bloody intact too. Probably cos it had a short life and just became a house I suppose. Appears in newspapers in 1872, which looks right, but God knows why they built it since its hidden down a side street and … Continue reading Ex pub in Fitzroy →

Repost 2017: #MonashReligiousCentre, #MockridgeStahleandMitchell, 1968. An interdenominational chapel, so no crosses, with a lovely calm atmosphere inside (though there are some #stainedglasswindows). The outside very understated like many of the early Monash buildings, (except the Ming Wing), though can’t say I actually like it much, an odd shape, neither dome nor cylinder, and the low … Continue reading Monash Religious Centre →

So nearly 10 years ago I got a letter in the age re the now dumped Tower Melbourne, cnr Bourke & Queen - railing against the idea that towers could go almost straight up, very close to boundaries, and nobody seemed to care what this did to the street scale, or neighbours. This was the … Continue reading I prefer podiums to gong straight up →

Repost 2014: Repost 2014: ENSOR 1875 #crouchandwilson for Joseph Levy. If you really made it in Melbourne’s early Jewish community, you might build a mansion here, just round the corner from the East Melb synagogue. It’s one of the #rowmansions on #victoriaparade #eastmelbourne all owned by #eyeandearhospital. Restored 1995. Ardee, 1881 by #crouchandwilson 6 years … Continue reading Row mini mansions, Victoria Parade →